88-Year-Old Vol Fan Says He’s Been Priced Out After Holding Season Tickets For 58 Years

Image: Tennessee Athletics

By Cody McClure

Tennessee Athletics has seen a ton of success in recent years thanks to UT athletic director Danny White.

With that, unfortunately, has come significantly higher ticket prices.

It makes sense. Simple economics. Supply and demand.

The supply is a good product on the field/hardwood/diamond. The demand is more people wanting to go to the games.

I found an interesting account today from a lifelong Tennessee basketball fan, courtesy of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

The account comes from a man named Thomas Bailey in a letter to the editor published on knoxnews.com.

“I am 88 years old,” Bailey wrote. “I have been a Tennessee basketball season ticket holder since 1967. Have probably been to at least 85% of games. Have been to lots of SEC tournaments. In 1982, I donated to the Thompson-Boling Arena Building Fund. With this donation I was assured the same seats for me and my spouse for our lifetime. I have been seated in Section 120 Row 18 Seats 9 and 10 since the arena opened.

“I called April 7, 2025 to renew my tickets for the coming season. I was told my cost would be $4,488 for the two tickets. Last season I paid $1,480 for both tickets. That's an increase of about 300%.”

Now this is just one fan reporting this specific information, but other fans have had similar accounts.

A price increase of more than $3,000 year-over-year?

It’s tough these days on the common man. Especially a common man with a family, I’d imagine.

“I am on a fixed income of very little and cannot afford this. I can't believe they would treat a dedicated fan like this,” the fan continued. “I understood according to the newspaper that there was going to be about a 16% increase.

“It's all about the money, not dedication.”